MoEF ‘spares’ mine owned by Congressman’s son

Environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan’s cancellation of environmental clearances (ECs) of 93 mining leases in the BJP-ruled Goa has prompted demands for similar strong actions against mines flouting norms in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, many of which allegedly enjoy the backing of the Congress strongmen.

In a letter to Natarajan, Mumbai-based NGO, Vanashakti, has pointed out that violations of norms while mining iron ore at the Kalne village in Sindhurug, which is almost next to Goa, have been revealed in two reports filed with the state government by the directorate of geology and mining, Kolhapur.

“There is a mine owned by M/s Minerals and Metals Pvt Ltd, belonging to the son of a state Congress leader in Sindhudurg. This mine has also got clearances based on false environmental impact assessment (EIAs) and has been found guilty of illegal mining by the directorate of geology and mining, Kolhapur, causing an estimated loss of Rs600 crore to the state exchequer in the past eight months alone,” wrote D Stalin, director, Vanashakti.

Noting the politics over mining between the BJP and Congress in the case of Goa, he wrote: “Please implement the measures to protect the Western Ghats, irrespective of which party is in power.”

The company, M/s Minerals and Metals Pvt Ltd, is owned by Vinay Patil, son of former public works department minister and Congressman Rohidas Patil. The iron ore mine at Kalne was granted mining lease in 2009 for 20 years over 32.25 hectares. However, inspections conducted twice by the directorate found encroachments and conduct of mining-related activities on neighbouring land too. Both the reports have been accessed by DNA. The first report said, “Actual site inspection has revealed that the miner has encroached beyond his borders.”

The second report said, “A satellite imagery-based study of the area outside the approved mining region in plots of land bearing survey numbers 57/3 and 57/4, mining on 4.89 hectares is established. While actual site inspection and measurement of the two plots show that tree plantation on 4.22 hectares being done (implying that mining activity did take place).” The report estimates 9,34,500 metric tonne of iron ore deposits in the encroached area which “may have been mined.”

Shiv Sena MLC Parshuram Uparkar was the first to raise this issue in the council in April 2011.  “The chief minister set up a committee to inspect the mine, and it found violations,” said Uparkar.

However, Patil defended himself.  “The two reports by the directorate are full of flaws. The collector of Sindhudurg sent us a notice and our lawyers are responding to it. We are pursuing the matter with the government,” said Patil.